Transfer news: Ex-Inter Milan Aussie signs for A-League club

Exciting Italy-raised Aussie attacker Reno Piscopo will join Wellington Phoenix for this season’s A-League, it has been confirmed.

The transfer was confirmed today with the 21-year-old leaving his Italian Serie C club Renate FC.

Piscopo spent most of the last decade refining his game in Italy with Inter Milan

During the Italian off-season, the Olyroos striker has been based in Melbourne as he assessed his options.

So it was a surprise he didn’t sign with either three Victorian-based A-League clubs.

But Phoenix swooped and have picked up a genuine Socceroo striker of the future.

Piscopo caught the eye in recent months in the Olyroos’ Tokyo 2020 qualifiers in South East Asia.

He looked a future star under Graham Arnold as Australia’s U23s steamrolled their way to January’s final qualifiers in Bangkok for the 2020 Olympics.

Piscopo will be a vital part of January’s campaign, so it will be hoped for Australia's sake that he's allowed to play in the tournament set for Bangkok.

The livewire forward joined Inter Milan’s junior academy in 2012 aged 12, training with the Nerazzurri while playing for a feeder club, before Inter brought him in to play for their academy team in tournaments around Europe.

For the last two seasons, the Melbourne-born talent dropped down to the more physical but still tactical Serie C (Group B with Renate, currently 15th in the league).

“It was just unbelievable, the facilities and the places you go when you play for Inter as a youngster," he told FTBL recently.

"I took my chances and signed young in Italy and I’ve developed the Inter Milan way.

"They’ve taught me what they know and what they think is best, and it’s helped my game a lot, in my attacking and my defending.

“I’ve had the Italian experience, the Italian school of soccer you could say. Learning to play different positions, learning how to defend better, learning how to move without the ball.”